Description:

This memorial is in the grounds of Sandgate General Cemetery, Newcastle. It consists of a brick wall with 5 large brass plaques for the names of these who served from Newcastle. In the centre is a plaque to Currey VC & Jeffries VC. In addition there are 100 small individual brass plaques dedicated to individual servicemen installed by the families. Immediately in front of the wall is a black stone obelisk with the words in white 'Lest We Forget' and a white cross. In line with the obelisk but on either side, to the left (north) a small Aleppo Pine and to the right (south) a boulder with the opening brass plaque. Further out, is a row of 6 brick pillars, from left to right, 2 small, 2 large and 2 small.

Inscription:

(name plaque) THE CAPT. CLARENCE SMITH JEFFRIES (V.C.) born 26.10.1894 at Wallsend Killed in action 12.10.1917 Passchendaele, Belgium age 22 AND PTE. WILLIAM MATTHEW CURREY (V.C.) born 19.9.1895 at Wallsend died 20.4.1948 age 52 MEMORIAL WALL This memorial wall is dedicated to remembering the hardship and sacrifices made by these Australian men and women whose GALLANTRY has become LEGENDARY. WE WELL REMEMBER THEM (Aleppo Pine) 'Donated by Taree Shire Council' ALEPPO PINE (PINUS BRUTIA) Grown from the original Lone Pine on Gallipoli This tree planted in memory of departed comrades Year 2000 LEST WE FORGET (opening plaque) SANDGATE CEMETERY TRUST To commemorate the official opening and dedication of THE CAPT CLARENCE SMITH JEFFRIES VC AND PTE WILLIAM MATTHEW CURREY VC MEMORIAL WALL 16th April 2000 by EDWARD KENNA VC and KEITH PAYNE VC Sandgate Cemetery Trust Kevin Coburn, John Deppe, Susan Herd, Cynthia Hunter Ghing Marchich (Secretary), Peter Owens, Adrian Quain (Chairperson) Newcastle RSL Council Phil Winney (President), Colin Davies (Vice President) Charlie McGregor (Secretary) Designer EJE Architecture Mike Craig Clergy Chaplain (W/Cdr) Kevin Russell, Chaplain (S/Ldr) Murray Earl Chaplin (F/Lt) Ross Naylor Researchers Maureen Connelly, Nanette Harris, Gary Hodgkinson Cynthia Hunter, Garry Mitchell, Bill Saxby Stonemasons Edstein Creative Stone R. F. Gates 'Sandgate Cemetery' Bill Saxby (General Manager) (brick pillar 1) brass plaque of Merchant Navy (brick pillar 2) brass plaque of Royal Australian Navy (brick pillar 3) OUR HEROES The landing at Gallipoli, was under-way at dawn Hundreds of soldiers waded ashore, from their ships of war Guns were blazing, bullets were whistling above the Anzacs heads The cries of wounded soldiers were heard among the dead The frantic faces of warriors who were fighting for our land Showed their pain and anguish their bleeding stained the sand They wondered why this madness as one by one they fall Heroes, they were the Anzacs brave men who answered the call. by Amanda Gleeson age 11 April 1997 (brick pillar 4) brass plaque of Australian Commonwealth Military Forces (brick pillar 5) brass plaque of Royal Australian Air Force (brick pillar 6) brass plaque of Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps Pro Humanitate

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